Carolyn Steele

I am a snorkaholic. The very first time I put on a mask and discovered the magical underwater world of the reefs, I was hooked for life. It was the experience of snorkeling that truly opened my eyes to the diversity of nature as a whole. I am still inspired by the amazing color, complexity and beauty of the wildlife I have observed during my years of travel in the Caribbean. My images are composed of elements that a nature lover might come across on a morning walk or an afternoon of snorkeling.
I grew up in England and, as a little girl, took private art lessons in the countryside, where I created detailed studies of flora and fauna in various media. My father, also an artist, inspired and encouraged me from the start. I began painting pictures of the Caribbean in 1992, to extend the memory of my visits to the West Indies.


I have a background in graphic design, which helped me develop my sense of composition, an important element of all my paintings. In graphic design/lithography, I was limited in my use of color. Painting the tropics allowed me to set my creativity free. I love working large. I rarely work smaller than 18 x 24 inches, and most of my paintings are on 22 x 30 inch, 300 lb watercolor paper.

I am committed to nature education and conservation, which is why I donate part of my profits to wildlife and reef preservation projects. I hope that my works will both decorate and help people appreciate the incredible variety and fragility of the biosystems I paint. The majority of the species depicted here are native to the West Indies, and many of them are endangered.